Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-22
HIRsuTE A0oRNMENTS

The Days OF Smooth Faces and the
Growth Of the Beard Mania
Times change and men change with
them was reminded OF this tho other
afternoon, observes n writer in the Phill-
dolphia Cal, when gentleman walked
Into the oftice and announced himself as n
Pittsburgh Clergyman. Nothing surpris-
Ing about clergyman walking into this
ONCE or sven tho fact that DO was from
Pittsburgt, but he was remarkable
looking man- Tho hair OF his head was
closely cropped, but tbs hair on hi5 face,
IA N 20 make amends, was unusually
luxuriant With tho tho exception Of his
forehead, nose and cyos, no portion Of h
oountonance was visible. IL was forest
Of hsir. And this was a ministeri Por-
hops you ask what OF ~ Ia thcro any rea-
son why minister ahouli not wear a
bcarli VOL, there isn't now. but once
upon time thoro wero worry cosont rca-
soma
Away back In tho timo OF the carly Pu-
ritans tho custom OF cloan shaving was
Introduced, and II chung TO this country
like n burr until thirty years ago Have
you over noticed how many old gentlemen
thoro aro In this city without hair on their
facosi II IL not particularly because thoy
want 20 shave because II II n waste Of
time which thoy would willingly save. but
because thoy arc wooded 70 old notions
1hcy always have shaved since the days
OF tho iucipont fuEH on their upper lips,
and they always will. Habit Is stronger
than religion with most men, and tho
shaving habit IL tho strongest II IL n
bold man who will shave on his mustachs,
md have known-and so have you-men
who make apes OF themselves by thu way
thoy wear their boards, simply because
- a. -
no Dcttor and now lack tho courage to
change their style
Whom was n youngster men were
iust beginning 70 break away from
amooth faces, but the movement mot with
little favor. IL was atiu believed that a
smooth faco was n standard OF rcspecta-
bility, and any departure thcrufrom so
vored OF wtckolnesa Tho clorgy wore
rOapoaaiblo In q great measure for this be-
liof, for they were clean-sh Nvod TO a man
IL n man made his appearance In tho
stroota or n public assembly with . full
board he was set down as n foreigner. or
porhaps n pirate, and a man-espociaily
young man-who bravod tho gaEo OF hi,
foliow-men with simple mustache wa
promptly voted q gambler or q blackle z
Our seniors wepo not slow TO quote his
tory aud fsblo against bearded faces
Apollo, you know, q confosscdly hand
come man, was boardloss. and so wa
George Washington, q confossedly grea
man. Therefore, said cur Seniors, eto.
Lltile By little tho "fOroigners" multi
Piled on the streets, and hore aud there
daring man cultivated side whiskers
Then came tho California gold fever ant
the young mon OF tho East swarmcd 70 tn
West They all carried mirrors and razor
with thcm, but soap was dear, mirrors be
To- a. MI mi rot AZ d
Besidcs, they soou learned IN the free a,
mosphere Of tho West TO scout oid idea
founded on nothing. In short, they 10
their boards grow and brought thom BAG
East with them and Haunted the m In tn
shocked faces OF the peopla IL W as hoi
rihlc, A. was icon elastic, bat tho pioneer
hoh their ground and tho East sui
rendered.
Sido-whiskers and boards made thoi
appearance in the pulpit and congreg'
tons split in consequence Young me
galsod mustaches and wore cut OF with
out n cont; business men developed iHt
pirates and lost trade, but sun the fashlo
grew. Tho accommodating doctors cam
20 tho nd Of thc iconoclasts and proscrit
cd full boards for sore throats, an 20
know II n IL ''by the aivico OF my doctor
you can got drunk twice a day without II
Jury TO your reputation Then there cam
Che civil war and that everlasting
settled IL Every b dy since then IN
worn boards, mus;schcs, Rratecs OF side
whiakors, each or oil, fr m the Presideu
20 tho chimney -swcor. That's why tha
minister camo In such \ fashion.
Og course, II never was morally wron
% wear any kind OF hirsu:o adornmen
aud the absurd opposition tolt shows hot
easy 10 Ia 10 ash up a text or argument
bolster up prejudice 10 IL so dincult
mind your own business and let over
other man mind his, and some peon